Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Cincinnati Bengals debuts Aug. 6

June 19, 2013 By Leave a Comment

hbo-logoHBO SPORTS®, NFL FILMS AND THE CINCINNATI BENGALS JOIN FORCES FOR

A NEW SEASON OF THE ULTIMATE SPORTS REALITY SERIES WHEN

HARD KNOCKS: TRAINING CAMP WITH THE CINCINNATI BENGALS,

CHRONICLING THE RIGORS AND DAILY DEMANDS OF NFL TRAINING CAMP, DEBUTS TUESDAY, AUG. 6, EXCLUSIVELY ON HBO

HBO Sports, NFL Films and the Cincinnati Bengals team up for an all-access look at what it takes to make it in the National Football League when HARD KNOCKS: TRAINING CAMP WITH THE CINCINNATI BENGALS debuts in August. The first sports-based reality series – and one of the fastest-turnaround programs on TV – kicks off its five-episode eighth season, presented in HD, TUESDAY, AUG. 6 (10:00-11:00 p.m. ET/PT), exclusively on HBO. Other hour-long episodes debut subsequent Tuesdays at the same time, with an encore play Wednesday at 11:00 p.m., culminating in the Sept. 3 season finale.

“We are delighted that HARD KNOCKS will be returning this summer and excited for our return to the AFC North and the Cincinnati Bengals franchise,” says Ken Hershman, president, HBO Sports. “With playoff appearances three of the past four seasons, the Bengals have built a terrific young team, and we are extremely grateful to both coach Marvin Lewis and the entire organization for agreeing to participate. The series has become captivating television, with appeal far beyond the hardcore football fan. HARD KNOCKS is a cornerstone franchise at HBO Sports.”

“We’re thrilled to again work with both the Cincinnati Bengals and HBO Sports,” says Howard Katz, COO of NFL Films and NFL Senior Vice President of Broadcasting. “In particular, we want to thank Mike Brown for the trust he’s shown in NFL Films by allowing us access to Bengals training camp. This year’s Bengals squad provides us with a compelling combination of unique storylines: a veteran coaching staff, young superstars, high-profile free agents and an intriguing draft class. We can’t wait to see what will take place this year and look forward to collaborating with HBO, which has been the perfect partner for us since HARD KNOCKS debuted 12 seasons ago.”

The cinema verité series will focus on the daily lives and routines of players and coaches as the Cincinnati Bengals, who play in the ultra-competitive AFC North, prepare for the 2013 NFL season. HARD KNOCKS: TRAINING CAMP WITH THE CINCINNATI BENGALS will chronicle 11th-year head coach Marvin Lewis and an intriguing mix of high-profile veterans, emerging stars, free agents and rookie hopefuls throughout training camp and the four-game preseason schedule. Each week, players will experience drills, instruction, meetings and fun, while striving to prove they have what it takes to make the team and leave their mark on the NFL.

“The feedback we got from our experience with HARD KNOCKS in 2009 was outstanding,” says Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis. “Our fans enjoyed it tremendously and we’re happy to try and provide that same experience again. Our fans love the NFL and they enjoy seeing things they don’t normally get to see. We have some outstanding men, both as players and as people. They’ve got great charisma to go along with their football skills, and the HARD KNOCKS treatment allows for both to shine through.”

Adds Lewis, “Some people say, ‘Well, you won the division the last time you did this. Is that a reason for doing it again?’ I really don’t think that matters or figures much into the decision. Every day, every time, is a new experience. As coaches and players, we just go into it knowing we have to do our jobs to the utmost. We have a grueling schedule, and expectations are very high, particularly among ourselves. We’ve got to take a workmanlike attitude from the very start. HARD KNOCKS is another element you have to be prepared to deal with. The NFL Films people are totally professional, so that’s not a worry, but it’s not like a normal day. One thing I did see as a positive last time was exposing our players to another group of people who are working hard every day the way we need to work. The diligence and the effort of the people on-site is very impressive.”

A 24-person NFL Films crew will live in Cincinnati as the Bengals hold camp at Paul Brown Stadium, shooting more than 1,250 hours of footage over the course of the series. Camera and sound crews will have unencumbered access to the players’ and coaches’ meeting rooms, training rooms, living quarters and practice fields.

Last summer’s edition of HARD KNOCKS, marking the first time the series debuted on Tuesday nights, was a resounding success. The five-part series on the resurgent Miami Dolphins averaged 4.1 million viewers per episode, making it the second-most-watched HARD KNOCKS in a decade.

HARD KNOCKS launched with the Baltimore Ravens in 2001, followed by the Dallas Cowboys in 2002. The series resumed in 2007 with the Kansas City Chiefs, winning a Sports Emmy®. In 2008, the series returned to the Dallas Cowboys, receiving a second Sports Emmy® for production excellence. In 2009, HARD KNOCKS spotlighted the Cincinnati Bengals franchise and captured two more Sports Emmy® Awards, for Outstanding Edited Series/Anthology and Outstanding Post-Produced Audio/Sound. In 2010, the New York Jets were featured and the series captured three Sports Emmys®, including Outstanding Edited Series/Anthology. Last summer’s presentation, spotlighting the Miami Dolphins earned the franchise an eighth Sports Emmy®, in the category of Outstanding Post-Produced Audio/Sound.

Time Magazine called HARD KNOCKS “riveting,” while NFL.com hailed the series as “undoubtedly the greatest football program in the history of the television medium.” Business Week observed, “As a workplace drama, it ranks among the best on television,” and New York’s Daily News termed it “the gold standard of sports reality programming.”

 

Filed Under: HBO, NFL

Boxing After Dark returns Saturday from Dallas

June 14, 2013 By Leave a Comment

hbo-boxingALL-ACTION SLUGFEST HBO BOXING AFTER DARK®:

MIKEY GARCIA VS. JUAN MANUEL LOPEZ AND

TERENCE CRAWFORD VS. ALEJANDRO SANABRIA

PRESENTED SATURDAY, JUNE 15 ON HBO

            HBO’s hit late-night boxing franchise heads to the American Airlines Center in Dallas for the first time to present an all-action slugfest highlighted by a superb featherweight title showdown when HBO BOXING AFTER DARK: MIKEY GARCIA VS. JUAN MANUEL LOPEZ AND TERENCE CRAWFORD VS. ALEJANDRO SANABRIA is seen SATURDAY, JUNE 15 at 10:45 p.m. (live ET/tape-delayed PT), exclusively on HBO. The HBO Sports team of Jim Lampley, Max Kellerman and Roy Jones Jr. will be ringside for the event, which will be available in HDTV, closed-captioned for the hearing-impaired and presented in Spanish on HBO Latino.

Other HBO playdates: June 16 (9:00 a.m.) and 17 (midnight)

HBO2 playdate: June 18 (midnight)

The main event pits Mikey Garcia (31-0, 26 KOs) of Oxnard, Cal. against Juan Manuel Lopez (33-2, 30 KOs) from Caguas, Puerto Rico in a scheduled 12-round featherweight title bout. Garcia comes from a talented boxing family: The 25-year-old is trained by his father, Eduardo, and co-managed and trained by his brother, Robert, the BWAA 2012 Trainer of the Year. Garcia has been on a roll, scoring KO victories in 14 of his last 16 fights, including an impressive performance in January. Having won world titles at 122 and 126 pounds, “Juanma” Lopez is sure to make this an intriguing showdown as he seeks to reestablish his prominence in the lighter weight divisions.

In the co-feature bout, rising undefeated lightweight contender Terence Crawford (20-0, 15 KOs) of Omaha, Neb. meets the more experienced Alejandro Sanabria (34-1-1, 25 KOs) of Mexico City in a ten-round, 135-pound showdown. Crawford gained notoriety in March when he took a bout against the dangerous Breidis Prescott on short notice and dominated the fight. Making his U.S. debut, Sanabria is riding a ten-bout winning streak.

Opening the evening of primetime programming on HBO will be the network debut of the blockbuster theatrical “The Dark Knight Rises” at 8:00 p.m. (ET/PT).

Immediately following the doubleheader, HBO will present an encore of “2 Days: Gennady Golovkin” from the acclaimed “2 Days” feature series.

Follow HBO boxing news at hbo.com/boxing, on Facebook at facebook.com/hboboxing and on Twitter at twitter.com/hboboxing.

All HBO boxing events are presented in HDTV. HBO viewers must have access to the HBO HDTV channel to watch HBO programming in high definition.

The executive producer of HBO BOXING AFTER DARK is Rick Bernstein; producer, Dave Harmon; director, Doug Getts.

® HBO BOXING AFTER DARK is a registered service mark of Home Box Office, Inc.

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Filed Under: Boxing, HBO

Soledad O’Brien joins HBO’s Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel

June 12, 2013 By Leave a Comment

hbo-real-sportsAWARD-WINNING BROADCAST JOURNALIST SOLEDAD O’BRIEN

JOINS HBO’S REAL SPORTS WITH BRYANT GUMBEL AND

INKS OVERALL CONTENT DEVELOPMENT DEAL WITH THE NETWORK

NEW YORK, June 12, 2013 – Renowned broadcast journalist Soledad O’Brien, who has been honored with the Peabody, Emmy® and duPont Awards for enterprising reporting during her accomplished television career, will join the team of HBO’s critically acclaimed magazine program REAL SPORTS WITH BRYANT GUMBEL, it was announced today by Ken Hershman, president, HBO Sports.

“Soledad is a perfect fit for REAL SPORTS,” said Hershman. “She’s an extraordinary interviewer and storyteller, and we’re thrilled to be able to add her to a franchise where the emphasis is on finding and presenting thought-provoking stories in the diverse and ever-fascinating world of sports.”

In addition to joining REAL SPORTS, O’Brien and her production company, Starfish Media Group, will have an overall relationship with HBO granting the network first look at scripted projects and long-form programming concepts that she and her team develop.

O’Brien has reported on breaking news from around the globe, making her one of the most recognizable names in journalism. In 2011, she won an Emmy® in the category of Outstanding Live Coverage of a Current News Story Long Form for “Crisis in Haiti.” O’Brien was part of the coverage teams that earned CNN a George Foster Peabody award for its coverage of the BP oil spill and Hurricane Katrina, and an Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Award for its coverage of the Southeast Asia tsunami. The National Association of Black Journalists named O’Brien Journalist of the Year and the Edward R. Murrow Awards lauded her with the RTDNA/UNITY award in 2010 for “Latino in America.”

O’Brien has been integral in developing and hosting the award-winning “Black in America” franchise, one of CNN’s most successful international franchises. In 2010, she wrote the critically acclaimed memoir “The Next Big Story: My Journey through the Land of Possibilities,” which chronicles her biggest reporting moments and how her upbringing and background have influenced these experiences.  She is a graduate of Harvard University and will serve as a visiting fellow for the 2013-14 school year at the university’s Graduate School of Education.  She is also a member of the board of directors for the Foundation for the National Archives.

“Soledad’s a respected journalist with a proven track record,” says Bryant Gumbel, host of REAL SPORTS. “Her credibility, broad interests and passion make her a wonderful addition to our program. I’m thrilled to have her on our REAL SPORTS team.”

O’Brien says of the new partnership: “HBO is undeniably a leader in meaningful storytelling in a wide array of formats. I’m honored to join the REAL SPORTS team and look forward to continuing my fervor for uncovering unique and impactful stories.”

In the course of 194 editions, REAL SPORTS has earned its reputation as sports television’s gold standard of sports journalism. The monthly series has won 25 Sports Emmy® Awards since its debut in April 1995. At the 34th annual Sports Emmys presentation on May 7, REAL SPORTS was recognized with two awards, including the trophy for Outstanding Edited Sports Series/Anthology. The show has been honored with the Sports Emmy® for Outstanding Sports Journalism 15 times, and is the only TV sports program to receive a duPont Award (winning in 2006 and 2012). On May 20, REAL SPORTS was the only sports program honored among the 39 recipients of the 2012 George F. Peabody Awards from the University of Georgia’s Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication for outstanding electronic media coverage.

Follow REAL SPORTS updates on Facebook at facebook.com/realsports or join the conversation on Twitter using #RealSports.

Rick Bernstein is the executive producer of REAL SPORTS WITH BRYANT GUMBEL; Joe Perskie is senior producer.

 

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Filed Under: HBO

2 Days: Gennady Golovkin Debuts June 8 on HBO

May 17, 2013 By Leave a Comment

hbo-boxing“2 Days: Gennady Golovkin”

Premieres Saturday, June 8 on HBO®

May 14, 2013 – HBO Sports® debuts an all-new installment of “2 Days” when the feature segment returns with a behind-the-scenes look at fast-rising 160-pound star Gennady Golovkin.  The episode debuts Saturday, June 8 at 12 midnight (ET/PT) or immediately following the HBO Boxing After Dark® doubleheader from Montreal.

“2 Days” is a revealing and intimate look at a 48-hour span in the life of a boxer in the lead-up to one of his fights and the next edition will focus on  31-year-old undefeated middleweight title-holder Gennady “GGG” Golovkin.  HBO cameras followed the sensational knockout artist prior to his showdown in January against Gabriel Rosado.

“2 Days: Gennady Golovkin” will add to the HBO Boxing programming lineup on June 8, which kicks off with an HBO Boxing After Dark  presentation from the Bell Centre in Montreal at 10:00 p.m. (ET/PT).

Golovkin returns to the ring on Saturday, June 29 when he faces Matthew Macklin in what is expected to be an all-action affair at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut on HBO Boxing After Dark®.

“2 Days” will also be available on the HBO On Demand® service, HBO GO® and at www.hbo.com/boxing as well as various other new media platforms that distribute the series.

        

Other HBO playdates: June 9 (1:30 p.m.), 10 (1:30 a.m.), 13 (1:45 p.m., 9:15 p.m.), 15 (12:45 a.m.), 16 (11:00 a.m.), 17 (11:45 a.m.), 20 (4:15 p.m.), 23 (11:30 a.m.), 24 (3:35 a.m.), 25 (4:00 p.m., 9:15 p.m.), 28 (11:45 a.m., 12:00 a.m.) and 29 (10:15 a.m.).

HBO2 playdates: June 9 (6:30 p.m.), 11 (2:00 a.m.), 16 (8:45 p.m.), 18 (3:50 a.m.), 20 (7:55 a.m.), 25 (8:10 a.m.), and 26 (9:15 p.m.).

All times are ET/PT.

 

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Filed Under: Boxing, HBO

Real Sports returns Tuesday

May 17, 2013 By Leave a Comment

hbo-real-sportsREAL SPORTS WITH BRYANT GUMBEL

PROFILES PENN STATE HEAD FOOTBALL COACH BILL O’BRIEN;

TELLS THE DRAMATIC STORY OF TWO CITIES BONDING OVER TRAGEDY;

EXPLORES VIOLENT ATTACKS ON GAME OFFICIALS IN AMERICA; AND

REVISITS THE FASCINATING WORLD OF HORSE BREEDING

WHEN THE EMMY®-WINNING SHOW RETURNS MAY 21, EXCLUSIVELY ON HBO

Now in its 19th season, REAL SPORTS WITH BRYANT GUMBEL, TV’s most honored sports journalism series and the only sports program recognized with a prestigious 2012 George Foster Peabody Award, presents more enterprising features and reporting when its 194th edition, available in HDTV, debuts TUESDAY, MAY 21 (10:00-11:00 p.m. ET/PT), exclusively on HBO.

Other HBO playdates: May 21 (2:35 a.m.), 23 (6:30 p.m., 2:40 a.m.), 25 (8:30 a.m., 11:15 p.m.), 28 (7:00 p.m.) and 31 (3:30 p.m., 1:00 a.m.), and June 2 (9:30 a.m.), 5 (10:15 a.m.) and 7 (9:00 p.m.)

HBO2 playdates: May 24 (6:00 a.m., 8:30 p.m.), 27 (2:40 p.m.) and 29 (3:25 p.m., 11:35 p.m.), and June 3 (7:00 p.m., 3:25 a.m.) and 8 (10:30 a.m.)

HBO On Demand® availability: May 27-June 17. The show will also be available on HBO GO®.

Segments include:

*Family Ties. After nearly 20 years in college and pro football, Bill O’Brien finally attained the head coaching job he coveted. Prior to the 2012 season, the 43-year-old Brown alum took over a Penn State University program devastated by the child sex abuse scandal involving former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky. Then the NCAA hit the university with a $60 million fine, scholarship reductions and a four-year bowl ban for lack of institutional control. After an 0-2 start amidst these unprecedented sanctions, O’Brien rallied his team to win eight of the next ten games, exceeding all expectations. He learned resilience in the face of adversity from his ten-year-old son, Jack, who suffers from a debilitating brain disorder and fights to survive every day of his life.  Andrea Kremer goes one-on-one with the 2012 National Coach of the Year and learns how his son’s condition helped prepare him for the challenges he’s encountered in turning around a program shattered by scandal.

Producer: Chapman Downes.

 

            *Oklahoma Strong. Each year, around the anniversary of the 1995 terrorist bombing of the Murrah Building, Oklahoma City holds a marathon to honor the 168 people killed and the hundreds injured in the attack. This year’s race occurred just two weeks after the Boston Marathon, where terrorists claimed three lives and injured more than 200, and participants honored those affected by that recent tragedy with donations and showed solidarity by wearing red socks. In this REAL SPORTS/Sports Illustrated collaboration, correspondent Mary Carillo meets several of the inspirational characters who have survived these tragedies and are taking strides – literally – toward healing.

Producer: Jordan Kronick.

*Ref Assaults. On a recent Saturday afternoon in late April, Salt Lake City resident Ricardo Portillo was doing what he loved to do in his free time, refereeing a local soccer game. When the game became too physical, the longtime official made a typical call in what was up to that point a typical game, issuing a yellow card to a goalie. As he wrote down the player’s name and number, the 17-year-old goalie allegedly threw a swift punch to Portillo’s head. The 46-year-old collapsed, slipped into a coma shortly after, and died a week later. While it is extremely rare in the U.S. for an attack on a referee to result in death, physical assaults by players and coaches are happening at an alarming rate, and officials are receiving security escorts following events with increasing frequency. REAL SPORTS correspondent Jon Frankel sets out to discover why referees are so often faced with danger and what can be done to remedy the troubling trend.

Producer: Nick Dolin.

 

            *Out to Stud.  The prized stallion Storm Cat was euthanized at Overbrook Farm in Lexington, Ky., due to complications of old age, on April 24, 2013. A descendant of Triple Crown winner Secretariat, he was once the most sought-after thoroughbred sire in horse racing, with his offspring earning more than $100 million at the tracks. Commanding a stud fee of $500,000 per session, Storm Cat brought his owners millions of dollars from eager breeders hoping to cash in on his proven genetic strength.

In the late 2000s, however, the recession hit the once-booming horse breeding industry particularly hard, resulting in much lower stud fees. After Storm Cat retired, attention turned to the engaging Zenyatta, who became the first filly to win the Breeder’s Cup Classic in 2009. Unlike Storm Cat, Zenyatta does not get paid to reproduce, but her offspring are the most talked-about in the industry. In this REAL SPORTS update, correspondent Bernard Goldberg heads back to Kentucky to assess the changing landscape of horse breeding.

Producers: Nisreen Habbal, Lisa Bennett.

REAL SPORTS was the sole sports program recognized in 2012 with a George F. Peabody Award for broadcast excellence by the University of Georgia’s Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication. In addition, it is the only sports program ever honored with the duPont Award, having first been recognized in 2005, and receiving its second duPont Award in 2012.

At the 34th Annual Sports Emmy® Awards on May 7, REAL SPORTS captured two trophies, for Outstanding Edited Sports Series and for Outstanding Long Feature for the Aug. 2012 profile of former New Orleans Saints player Steve Gleason. REAL SPORTS has won the Sports Emmy® for Outstanding Sports Journalism 15 times and has received 25 Sports Emmy® Awards overall.

Follow REAL SPORTS updates on Facebook at facebook.com/realsports or join the conversation on Twitter using #RealSports.

The executive producer of REAL SPORTS WITH BRYANT GUMBEL is Rick Bernstein; Joe Perskie is senior producer.

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Filed Under: HBO

World Championship Boxing tripleheader on HBO from two sites on April 27th

April 25, 2013 By Leave a Comment

hbo-boxingHBO BOXING® SPANS THE HEMISPHERES WHEN

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING®: SERGIO MARTINEZ VS. MARTIN MURRAY,

LUIS CARLOS ABREGU VS. ANTONIN DECARIE AND

CHRIS ARREOLA VS. BERMANE STIVERNE

IS SEEN SATURDAY, APRIL 27

            HBO Sports® spans two continents, visiting South America for the first time, for a tripleheader headlined by the return of middleweight superstar Sergio Martinez when WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING: SERGIO MARTINEZ VS. MARTIN MURRAY, LUIS CARLOS ABREGU VS. ANTONIN DECARIE AND CHRIS ARREOLA VS. BERMANE STIVERNE is seen SATURDAY, APRIL 27 at 8:30 p.m. (live ET/tape-delayed PT) from Buenos Aries, Argentina and Ontario, Cal. exclusively on HBO. Separate HBO Sports teams in both locations will call all the action, which will be available in HDTV, closed-captioned for the hearing impaired and presented in Spanish on HBO Latino.  Jim Lampley, Max Kellerman, Roy Jones Jr. and Harold Lederman will be ringside in Buenos Aries, while Bob Papa, Andre Ward and Steve Weisfeld will call the action from Ontario, CA.

Other HBO playdates: April 28 (8:45 a.m.) and 29 (12:15 a.m.)

HBO2 playdates: April 28 (4:00 p.m.) and 30 (11:30 p.m.)

Coming off a spectacular victory against previously undefeated Mexican superstar Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. last September, 38-year-old Sergio Martinez (50-2-2, 28 KOs) returns to his hometown of Buenos Aries and the 50,000-seat Club Atlético Vélez Sarsfield soccer stadium to defend his middleweight title against undefeated Martin Murray (25-0-1, 11 KOs) from St Helens, United Kingdom in a 12-round contest. Fighting in his home country for the first time since 2002, Martinez left in obscurity but returns a treasured hero. He took the crown from Kelly Pavlik in 2010 and will be making his seventh title defense. With just five years fighting professionally, the undefeated Murray, 30, will rely on his extensive amateur experience in attempting a huge upset. His one draw came against middleweight star Felix Sturm in a fight many observers considered a Murray victory.

“It is not often that we get to go to the homeland of a true ambassador of the sport to present his homecoming bout, so we are delighted to be telecasting the Martinez-Murray showdown from Buenos Aires on April 27,” says Kery Davis, senior vice president, programming, HBO Sports.

The tripleheader begins at the Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, Cal. with an intriguing heavyweight matchup, as Chris Arreola (35-2, 30 KOs) of Escondido, Cal., meets Bermane Stiverne (22-1-1, 20 KOs), originally from La Plaine, Haiti and now living in Las Vegas, in a 12-round heavyweight title elimination bout. Arreola, 31, and Stiverne, 34, are vying for a shot at Vitali Klitschko’s title, and both sport an impressive knockout-to-win ratio, with Arreola at 81% and Stiverne at 83%. Originally slated for March 9, the bout was rescheduled due to illness.

The action shifts to South America for the middle fight, as Luis Carlos Abregu (34-1, 28 KOs) from Salta, Salta Province, Argentina takes on Montreal’s Antonin Decarie (27-1, 8 KOs) in a 12-round welterweight faceoff. Known for his power punching, the 29-year-old Abregu suffered his only loss to welterweight titleholder Timothy Bradley Jr. in 2010 and is on a five-fight knockout streak. A Canadian national amateur champion, the 30-year-old Decarie is regarded as a rising star in the division, but faces his most difficult contest to date.

Follow HBO boxing news at hbo.com/boxing, on Facebook at facebook.com/hboboxing and on Twitter at twitter.com/hboboxing.

All HBO boxing events are presented in HDTV. HBO viewers must have access to the HBO HDTV channel to watch HBO programming in high definition.

The executive producer of WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING is Rick Bernstein; producer, Jon Crystal; producer, Dave Harmon; director, Marc Payton (Buenos Aries); director, Doug Getts (Ontario, Cal.).

® WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING is a registered service mark of Home Box Office, Inc.

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Filed Under: Boxing, HBO

Saturday Night: Donaire vs. Rigondeaux live at Radio City Music Hall

April 12, 2013 By Leave a Comment

hbo-boxingUNIFICATION FIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING®:

NONITO DONAIRE VS. GUILLERMO RIGONDEAUX

PRESENTED FROM NEW YORK’S ICONIC RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL

SATURDAY, APRIL 13, EXCLUSIVELY ON HBO

         Two top fighters make their 2013 debuts in a world super bantamweight title unification fight at New York’s iconic Radio City Music Hall when WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING: NONITO DONAIRE VS. GUILLERMO RIGONDEAUX is seen SATURDAY, APRIL 13 at 11:00 p.m. (live ET/tape-delayed PT), exclusively on HBO. The HBO broadcast team of Jim Lampley, Max Kellerman and Roy Jones Jr. will be ringside for the event, which will be available in HDTV, closed-captioned for the hearing-impaired and presented in Spanish on HBO Latino.

Other HBO playdates: April 14 (8:30 a.m.) and 15 (midnight)

HBO2 playdates: April 14 (2:15 p.m.) and 16 (11:30 p.m.)

In a 12-round super bantamweight title unification showdown, Nonito Donaire (31-1, 20 KOs) of San Leandro, Cal. takes on Guillermo Rigondeaux (11-0, 8 KOs) of Miami, Fla. A fierce fighter known for devastating speed, Donaire, 30, is one of the sport’s top performers and has not lost a fight in more than 11 years. After knocking out Jorge Arce last December for his fourth title defense of 2012, Donaire was named Fighter of the Year by the Boxing Writers’ Association of America.

A two-time Olympic gold medalist, Rigondeaux, 32, is making his HBO debut. He represented Cuba at the 2000 and 2004 Olympics, winning a gold medal both times, but didn’t turn pro until age 28, after defecting from Cuba and settling in Miami, and won his 122-pound belt in 2010. With just 11 pro fights on his resume (as well as more than 400 amateur bouts), Rigondeaux is considered by many to be Donaire’s toughest opponent to date.

Following the transformation of The Great Stage at Radio City Music Hall during fight week, the famed venue will host the second boxing match in its 82-year history, the first being a “World Championship Boxing” presentation that was seen on HBO in January 2000.

The special, “Road to Donaire-Rigondeaux,” examining the fight and telling the compelling back story of the fighters as they prepare for the showdown will replay Thursday at 7:45 p.m. (ET/PT) and Saturday at 10:00 a.m. (ET/PT) on HBO.

Follow HBO boxing news at hbo.com/boxing, on Facebook at facebook.com/hboboxing and on Twitter at twitter.com/hboboxing.

All HBO boxing events are presented in HDTV. HBO viewers must have access to the HBO HDTV channel to watch HBO programming in high definition.

The executive producer of WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING is Rick Bernstein; producer, Dave Harmon; director, Marc Payton.

® WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING is a registered service mark of Home Box Office, Inc.

Filed Under: Boxing, HBO

Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel: New edition April 16

April 12, 2013 By Leave a Comment

hbo-real-sportsREAL SPORTS WITH BRYANT GUMBEL

EXPLORES THE ROLE OF ULTRA SOCCER FANS IN EGYPT’S REVOLUTION;

PROFILES NASCAR FEMALE PIT CREW MEMBER CHRISTMAS ABBOTT;

REVISITS THE MIAMI MARLINS’ CONTROVERSIAL STADIUM DEAL; AND

TELLS THE HEARTWARMING STORY OF PRO BOXER BOYD MELSON

WHEN THE EMMY®-WINNING SHOW RETURNS APRIL 16, EXCLUSIVELY ON HBO

Now in its 19th season, REAL SPORTS WITH BRYANT GUMBEL, TV’s most honored sports journalism series and the only sports program recognized with a prestigious 2012 George Foster Peabody Award, presents more enterprising features and reporting when its 193rd edition, available in HDTV, debuts TUESDAY, APRIL 16 (10:00-11:00 p.m. ET/PT), exclusively on HBO.

Other HBO playdates: April 16 (3:10 a.m.), 19 (1:30 p.m., 9:00 p.m.), 21 (8:45 a.m.), 24 (7:00 p.m., 3:05 a.m.), 26 (1:00 a.m.), 27 (9:30 a.m., 11:15 p.m.) and 30 (11:00 a.m., 5:15 p.m.)

HBO2 playdates: April 18 (11:30 a.m., midnight), 22 (3:30 p.m., 10:00 p.m.) and 26 (7:00 p.m.), and May 1 (9:00 a.m., 5:00 a.m.), 5 (1:00 p.m.), 7 (2:00 p.m., 1:00 a.m.) and 11 (8:25 a.m.)

HBO On Demand® availability: April 22-May 13. The show will also be available on HBO GO®.

Segments include:

*The Ultras. In the 2011 revolution that toppled the government of Egyptian dictator Hosni Mubarak, a group of rabid, politicized soccer fans known as the Ultras were a critical factor. Now, host Bryant Gumbel travels to Cairo in the midst of their most recent initiative, designed to bring down the current government led by the Muslim Brotherhood. Some view them as anarchists and others see them as spirited revolutionaries – either way, they remain a powerful force in the country’s affairs. In this gripping REAL SPORTS account, Gumbel explores the Ultras’ astounding story and key role in Egypt’s turbulent transition to democracy.

Producer: Josh Fine.

            *Hot Wheels. Christmas Abbott is the first female to be part of a NASCAR pit crew and is poised to make history as the first woman on a Sprint Cup crew. At first glance, the petite 31-year-old doesn’t seem like the type to do the laborious jobs required in the crew. Her strength and speed, however, make her a perfect fit for the pressure-filled job. At the height of the Iraq war, she visited the country with her mother, a contractor, and began a new workout regimen called CrossFit. A few years later, back in the States, she became a bona fide CrossFit star. In this REAL SPORTS/Sports Illustrated collaboration, Jon Frankel goes one-on-one with the Virginia native to learn more about her fast-rising star in NASCAR.

Producer: Maggie Burbank.

            *Miami Heat. In Oct. 2010, host Bryant Gumbel sat down with Florida Marlins president David Samson to discuss plans for a sparkling new ballpark, primarily funded by taxpayers. Samson expressed optimism that the deal would prove beneficial for the team and the city, and in the inaugural season at Marlins Ballpark the team increased its payroll and captured many top free agents. Unfortunately, the park in Little Havana failed to retain fans and following the 2012 season, the team traded away many star players, including Jose Reyes, Josh Johnson and Mark Buehrle. Now the Miami Marlins are embroiled in controversy, with an SEC investigation looking into the stadium deal. REAL SPORTS host Bryant Gumbel heads back to Miami to reconnect with Samson and other principals in the ongoing dispute over the ballpark’s financing.

Producers: Chapman Downes, Nisreen Habbal.

            *Fight to Walk. Most talented amateur boxers turn pro with dreams of fame, fortune and title belts. New Yorker Boyd Melson’s aspirations are slightly different. The 31-year-old boxes for his “soul mate,” Christan Zaccagnino, who was paralyzed from the waist down in a diving accident at age ten. Melson donates every dollar he earns in the ring to spinal cord research with the hope that modern medicine will discover a way for Zaccagnino to walk again. A West Point graduate, he maintains a grueling schedule to train while working a typical nine-to-five office job. REAL SPORTS correspondent Frank Deford visits with Melson and Zaccagnino to learn more about this amazing tale of love and devotion.

Producer: Chapman Downes.

Last month, REAL SPORTS was the sole sports program recognized for broadcast excellence in 2012 by the University of Georgia’s Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication. It is the only sports program ever honored with the duPont Award, having first been recognized in 2005, and receiving its second duPont Award in 2012.

REAL SPORTS has won the Sports Emmy® for Outstanding Sports Journalism 15 times and has received 23 Sports Emmy® Awards overall.

Join the conversation on Twitter using #RealSports.

The executive producer of REAL SPORTS WITH BRYANT GUMBEL is Rick Bernstein; Joe Perskie is senior producer.

Filed Under: HBO

HBO2 to Televise Zou Shiming’s Pro Debut & Two Title Fights Saturday, April 6

April 5, 2013 By Leave a Comment

hbo-boxingThe Professional Debut of Two-Time Olympic Gold Medalist

ZOU SHIMING

and

WBO Jr. Lightweight Championship

ROCKY MARTINEZ vs. DIEGO MAGDALENO

and

WBO/WBA Flyweight Championship

BRIAN VILORIA vs. JUAN ESTRADA

*********************************

Tim Ryan, Larry Merchant and Big George Foreman

To Call The Action To U.S. From Ringside at

The CotaiArena at The Venetian Macao

Saturday, April 6 at 2:00 P.M. ET/PT on HBO2®

             U.S. boxing fans will be able to witness the premiere of world championship boxing in Macau with ZOU SHIMING:  Fists of Gold, featuring two world title fights and the professional debut of the Peoples Republic of China’s  two-time Olympic Gold Medalist and three-time World Amateur Champion Zou Shiming.  This brilliant event will be televised to the U.S. on Saturday, April 6, beginning at 2:00 p.m. ET/PT (1:00 p.m. CT) on the HBO2 service.  Calling the action from ringside from the CotaiArena™, The Venetian® Macao-Resort-Hotel will be broadcasting icons Tim Ryan and Larry Merchant and two-time heavyweight champion Big George Foreman.

            The telecast will also feature two-time World Boxing Organization (WBO) junior lightweight champion ROMAN “Rocky” MARTINEZ defending his title against undefeated No. 1 contender DIEGO MAGDALENO and World Boxing Association (WBA)/WBO flyweight champion BRIAN “Hawaiian Punch” VILORIA defending his unified titles against Top-10- contender JUAN FRANCISCO ESTRADA.    

“We are delighted that HBO recognizes as we do the historic nature of the Macau event and is making it available on a same-day basis to its subscribers on HBO2,” said Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum.

Todd duBoef, president of Top Rank, added:  “When introducing a new product to the biggest market in the world, we are thrilled that the biggest brands associated with boxing joins us. HBO is the gold standard for the sport and we are honored to have their support and commitment to expanding the boxing brand.”

“This is an exciting boxing initiative and we’re delighted to be the U.S. television home for this international event,” said Kery Davis, senior vice president, programming, HBO Sports.

Shiming, who is currently training with Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach at the Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood, Calif., will make his pro debut against Eleazar Valenzuela (2-1-2, 1 KO), of Gusave, Sinaloa, México, in a four-round flyweight bout . One of the most popular Olympic athletes in the People’s Republic of China, Shiming is the world’s greatest amateur light flyweight, capturing gold medals in the 2008 and 2012 Summer Olympic Games. In the 2005, 2007, and 2011 World Amateur Championships, Shiming also brought home gold medals, making him his nation’s first boxing gold medalist in the World Amateur Championships and the Olympics.  He became his nation’s first Olympic medalist in boxing when he earned bronze in 2004.  Known for his extraordinary speed and superb footwork, thanks to years of martial-arts training, many of Shiming’s opponents complain that they cannot keep up with him, much less see his punches coming. He has stated that his heroes are Muhammad Ali and Jackie Chan.

Martinez (26-1-2, 16 KOs), from Vega Baja, Puerto Rico, captured his first world title in 2009, knockiing out defending champion Nicky Cook out in the fourth round in front of Cook’s countrymen in Manchester, England.  Martinez successfully defended the title twice — both by knockout — during his one-year reign before losing it via a 12-round decision to Ricky Burns.  He regained the title last September, winning a gritty split decision over top-rated contender Miguel Beltran, Jr.  Martinez retained his title on January 19, surviving a challenge from Juan Burgos which was judged Draw.

Magdaleno (23-0, 9 KOs), of Las Vegas, Nev., enters this fight having won six of his last eight fights by way of knockout.  He captured the vacant NABF super featherweight title in 2011 by knocking out Marcos Leonardo in the fifth round and successfully defended that title five times during his title reign, which lasted through 2012, against top contenders who had a combined record of 137-31-5 when he fought them, en route to his No. 1 contender position.

Viloria (32-3, 19 KOs), a native Filipino who hails from of Waipahu, HI, is a two-division, three time world champion. The former U.S. Olympian captured his first world title, the World Boxing Council (WBC) light flyweight crown, in 2005, knocking out defending champion Eric Ortiz in the first round.  He held the title for nearly one year before losing it Omar Nino.  He earned his second world title in 2009, knocking out International Boxing Federation (IBF) junior flyweight champion Ulises Solis in the 11th round.  After losing that title to Carlos Tamara the following year Viloria moved up to the flyweight division. He captured the WBO world title in 2011, upending defending champion Julio Miranda via a unanimous decision.  After two successful defenses of his crown — both by knockout — Viloria unified the flyweight titles last November 17, knocking out WBA champion Hernan Marquez in the 10th round.  Viloria enters this fight riding a three-year winning streak.

Estrada (22-2, 17 KOs), of Hermosillo, México, returns to the ring for his second straight world title shot.  A natural flyweight, Estrada dropped down to challenge undefeated WBA light flyweight champion Roman Gonzalez last November 17, losing  a unanimous decision.  Now back at his natural fighting shape, Estrada will be looking to bring the flyweight world championship belts back to México.

LOCAL MACAU INFORMATION

Presented by Top Rank® and Sands China Ltd., tickets to ZOU SHIMING “Fists of Gold” are on sale now at all Sands China box offices*.

            ZOU SHIMING “Fists of Gold” kicks off at 7 p.m. on April 6 at the CotaiArena. Tickets are on sale now at all Sands China box offices and can be booked online at www.CotaiTicketing.com, or by phone at +853 2882 8818 (Macao) / +852 6333 6660 (HK) / +86 4001 206 618 (mainland China). Tickets are also available at Tom Lee Outlets and through Hong Kong Ticketing (customer service fee applies) at www.HKTicketing.com, or by phone at +852 3128 8288. Tickets are available in six categories: HKD/MOP 2,680 (Silver), 1,080 (A Reserve), 780 (B Reserve), 480 (C Reserve), 280 (D Reserve) and 80 (E Reserve). Packages with round trip Cotai Water Jet ferry tickets between Hong Kong and Macao are also available for HKD/MOP 2,768 (Silver), 1,168 (A Reserve), 868 (B Reserve), 568 (C Reserve) and 368 (D Reserve). For more information about the event, visit www.CotaiTicketing.com.

Entertainment at Sands China Ltd. Properties

Sands China Ltd. has as a clear vision to establish Macao as Asia’s top entertainment destination.

The 15,000-seat CotaiArena™ is the only venue in Asia ranked in Pollstar’s Top 100 Worldwide Arena Venues based on ticket sales. It is the top entertainment destination in southern China, hosting the world’s and the region’s biggest names in music, sports and awards shows. Superstars frequently choose the venue as the starting point of their Asian tours.

The 1800-seat, multi-purpose Venetian Theatre is one of the most luxurious entertainment venues in greater China. Featuring ushers in black-tie, champagne service, gourmet food and beverage items and other unique, premium amenities, it offers an intimate, luxurious and exclusive venue experience. The Venetian Theatre is playing a key role in bringing the best in international and Chinese entertainment to Macao, with a luxury theatre experience like no other in the region.

The 650-seat Sands Macao Hotel theatre regularly features internationally-renowned singers, performers and artists of the highest calibre. From traditional Chinese-costumed dancers to modern performances, and from singing troupes to contemporary bands, everything from Western rock to Cantonese pop is covered.

With an unbeatable diversity, the entertainment offering of Sands China Ltd. is ushering in a new era of entertainment in Macao.

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Filed Under: Boxing, HBO

Road To Donaire-Rigondeaux Debuts March 30 On HBO

March 22, 2013 By Leave a Comment

hbo-sportsROAD TO DONAIRE-RIGONDEAUX

PREMIERES SATURDAY, MARCH 30 ON HBO®

Friday, March 22 – HBO Boxing will present “Road to Donaire-Rigondeaux,” an all-new special examining the upcoming super bantamweight title unification fight between Nonito Donaire and Guillermo Rigondeaux.  The two 122-pound title-holders are on the road to a spectacular showdown at New York’s famed Radio City Music Hall on Saturday, April 13, which will be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing ®.

The “Road to Donaire-Rigondeaux” special, which will premiere on HBO on Saturday, March 30 at 12:15 a.m. ET/PT or immediately following the live Boxing After Dark presentation from Las Vegas, will feature a look at two of the best fighters in the game while they prepare to unify titles. Named “Fighter of the Year” by the Boxing Writers’ Association of America for 2012, Donaire is one of the sport’s most engaging stars and looks to continue his ascent on the pound-for-pound lists with a win. Rigondeaux has other plans and many consider him to be Donaire’s toughest opponent to date. Despite just 11 pro fights, the Cuban-native has an illustrious amateur background and two Olympic gold medals to his credit. As the tension builds for one of the most anticipated fights of the year, the special will provide a behind-the-scenes look at both men.

The 15-minute special will also be available on the HBO ON DEMAND® and HBO GO® platforms.

Additional HBO replay dates:

Sunday, March 31 at 11:45 a.m.

Monday, April 1 at 2:15 a.m.

Wednesday, April 3 at 5:15 a.m.

Thursday, April 4 at 12:00 a.m.

Friday, April 5 at 5:45 p.m.

Tuesday, April 9 at 9:15 a.m.

Wednesday, April 10 at 2:10 a.m.

Thursday, April 11 at 7:45 p.m.

Friday, April 12 at 2:00 a.m.

Saturday, April 13 at 10:00 a.m.

 

Additional HBO2 replay dates:

Tuesday, April 2 at 9:45 p.m.

Thursday, April 4 at 6:15 p.m.

Monday, April 8 at 10:00 a.m.

Wednesday, April 10 at 3:20 p.m.

 

All times are ET/PT.

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Filed Under: Boxing, HBO
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